Device for pressing in air into inflatable objects, e. g. air mattresses



Jan. 10, 1967 B- E. ANDREASSON DEVICE FOR PRESSING IN AIR INTO INFLATABLE OBJECTS, E.G. AIR MATTRESSES Filed Nov. 29, 1965 INVENTOR Y MM United States Patent 3 297.241 DEVICE FOR PRESSlNf; IN AIR INTO INFLATABLE OBJECTS, E.G. AIR MATTRESSES Bror Elis Andrasson, Bangatan 21,Vanersborg, Sweden Filed Nov. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 510,232 3 Claims. (Cl. 230--160) For inflating inflatable objects, such as air mattresses, rubber boats, tents and the like, there is as a rule used an air pump in the shape of bellows or a rubber bulb with a valve. Such pumps are on one hand hard to operate and on the other hand rather sensible. They often burst after being used a rather short time. The inflation is rather tiring and time-wasting due to the small volume which is inflated at each pump stroke. It is certainly known to use a bag-like device in which a greater volume is accumulated so as to reduce the pump work, but it has not previously been practically solved the problem of obtaining a suflicient air pressure for the inflatable object so as to give this object the best possible stability.

The present invention has for its purpose to overcome the drawbacks described in the aforegoing and has reference to a device for rendering possible a quicker and more comfortable inflation of inflatable objects of low pressure type such as air mattresses, rubber boats, tents, garages, pontoons, bathing toys and the like, but could also be used for other purposes which will be described more in detail in the following.

The main feature of the invention is to be seen in a chamber with a mouth-piece, said chamber being arranged in a corner of a bag comprising an air-tight material, said chamber being separated from the space in the interior of the bag by means of a partition, this partition being provided with a closable opening. The separating partition could in the simplest embodiment of the invention comprise a welded seam between the walls of the bag and the clamping device for closing the opening in the partition may comprise two plastic disks formed in a suitable manner and attached over the opening, said disks adapted to be pressed against the other so as to close the opening.

This device makes it possible to take full advantage of the rather great air quantity which is disposable in the bag by using a mouth-piece area of at least 3-4 cm. which makes it possible for the air to be pressed without difliculty from the bag to the air mattress. Further, the desired final pressure is obtained in some few moments at the use of the separate chamber. Beside the high efficiency and the high operation safety the device according to the invention gives by means of its simple construction low manufacture costs.

These advantages and other ones which will be explained in the following make the device according to the invention superior to all previously known pumps and other devices for manual inflation of inflatable objects.

As will be explained more in detail in the following, the use of such a bag is carried into effect quite simply thereby that, by holding the open end of the bag. one performs a swinging movement with the bag and fills it with air, and thereupon the material of the opening end of the bag is twisted in such a way that the air cannot escape at this end. The mouth-piece is then connected to the air inlet of the mattress or the like and with a light pressing on the bag the air mattress or the like will be quickly inflated.

When according to a further development of the invention the mouth-piece is provided with a tightening device, such as a screw plug or the like for closing the air intake of the bag and if the opening end of the bag is hermetically closed by means of a clamping means the invention can be used also for other purposes than in- 3,297,241 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 flating inflatable objects. A bag filled with air according to the invention, closed at the opening end as Well as at the air outlet, could namelyin small boats be used as life-saving rafts. In filled condition and when stowed away e.g. in the stem portion of a boat, it could increase the floating power of the boat in such a way that the boat at a shipwreck be prevented to sink. At boat trips the bag can with advantage be filled with equipment which is sensitive to water and then be filled with air and closed. The equipment will then not be damaged by water breaking in over the boat and not either in case the bag should fall overboard or not even at shipwreck as such a bag then would float with the equipment on the water.

The device may in other connections be used for life rescuing. The mouth-to-mouth-method which is used on persons having paralyzed respiratory organs, can be replaced by the device according to the invention. The mouth-piece which in this case should be of special construction fitting the purpose in question is inserted in the mouth of the person having the paralyzed respiratory organs and by exposing the air-filled bag to a pressure at regular intervals there is obtained a well measured dosage of the air to the rescued person.

The invention will now be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which is intended to illustrate the invention but not to restrict the same. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a device during the filling of the bag with air,

FIG. 2 shows the bag ready for use,

FIG. 3 shows the bag with the air intake and the opening end in closed positions, and

FIG. 4 shows a clamping device for closing the opening between the smaller chamber and the rest of the space in the bag.

In the drawing the bag which is manufactured from soft synthetic resin (plastics) or another preferably airtight and foldable material has been denoted with 1 and the small chamber with 2. The clamping device which is preferably provided with two springing arms for closing the opening in the partition between the chamber 2 and the rest of the space in the bag has been denoted 3 and the mouth-piece at its bottom with 4. The mouthpiece 4 which preferably is manufactured from synthetic resin comprises a tube piece provided with screw threads which tube by means of welding can be attached to the wall of the chamber 2.

When e.g. an air mattress is to be filled with air by means of the device according to the invention the following course of events is to be followed. The bag 1 1S gripped by means of both hands at the opening end 5 as shown in FIG. 1. When the bag thereupon is moved to the right according to FIG. 1 the bag is expanded by the occurring air pressure so that it is well filled with air. The same will happen with only a soft wind and in such a case the opening of the bag then has only to be held so that it faces the wind direction for a quick and immediate filling of the bag. With the hands one thereupon pushes quickly together the bag material at the opening end and twists the material at this end in such a way that the bag due to the elasticity of the material will be hermetically closed with exception for the mouthpiece 4. This mouth-piece 4 is coupled through a hose or in any other suitable manner to the air mattress (not shown) which should be provided with a non-return valve. Thereupon, the air content is pressed by means of a light pressure on the bag into the mattress which is quickly inflated. When the mattress is well filled, it is easy to obtain, by means of the chamber 2, the desired positive pressure in the air mattress. This is preferably obtained in the following manner. The air filled bag is held by one hand in erect position whereas the hand encloses the lightly twisted material at the opening end of the bag, and with the thumb and the index of the other hand the arms of the clamping device 3 are clamped together. The chamber 2 is compressed by a downwards directed movement of this hand whereby the air is pressed out through the mouth-piece 4. The air pressure in the air mattress increases thus continuously. When the pressure on the clamping devices 3 is somewhat released, the chamber 2 is refilled with air from the remaining space in the bag. Only some 'few compressions of the chamber 2 are required also when there is a question of inflation of rather great objects with a required positive pressure and thereby to give them the desired stability.

If there is desired not to keep the opening end of the bag closed by means of one hand and when the device according to the invention is to be used for other purposes as indicated in the preamble of this description, it is possible to use a clamping means 6 for this purpose. This means 6 should be of such a nature as to be easy and comfortable to arrange in such a way that it encloses the opening end of the bag (see FIG. 3) and which also easily and comfortably can be removed from the bag for rendering possible a filling of the bag.

The clamping means is with advantage manufactured from a synthetic resin of such a specific gravity that it floats on water.

As mentioned in the preamble of this specification the bag 1 when provided with a clamping means 6 for closing the opening end can be used for other purposes than for a pressing in of air into inflatable objects. In such a case the tube piece 4 must, however, be closed. As obvious from FIG. 3 there is for this purpose with advantage used a screw cap 7. In this 'way there is thus obtained a hermetically closed air-filled bag 1 which has a good floating ability and which for this reason can be used either alone or together with a number of similar bags which are interconnected by means of a rope or the like as a raft or a pontoon.

The invention has been described in the aforegoing for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined by the appended claims. Thus many constructive modifications could be carried out without departure from the inventive idea. It is advisable to arrange, on the outside of the bag 1 in front of .the air admission opening 8 in the partition to the chamber 2, strips of a coloured tape so that it will be easy to find the place where the bag walls are to be pressed together to close said opening. This opening may quite simply comprise an interruption in the welded seam 9 forming the partition.

What I claim is:

1. A device for pressing air into inflatable objects comprising a rectangular bag of air-tight material normally open at one end, said bag having a diagonal partition adjacent one closed corner of said bag forming a chamber, a mouth-piece arranged in the wall of said chamber. and a closable valved opening provided in said partition.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bag is of plastic material and said partition is formed by a welded seam.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a clamping device provided with two springing branches is provided to close said opening in said partition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,068,134 1/1937 Houghton 230- 2,372,218 3/1945 Manson 5348 2,423,890 7/1947 Hurt 230160 2,812,525 11/1957 Friedlander 5348 3,042,941 7/1962 Marcus 230160 3,133,696 5/1964 Mirando 230160 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

LAURENCE V. EFNER, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR PRESSING AIR INTO INFLATABLE OBJECTS COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR BAG OF AIR-TIGHT MATERIAL NORMALLY OPEN AT ONE END, SAID BAG HAVING A DIAGONAL PARTITION ADJACENT ONE CLOSED CORNER OF SAID BAG FORMING A CHAMBER, A MOUTH-PIECE ARRANGED IN THE WALL OF SAID CHAMBER AND A CLOSABLE VALVED OPENING PROVIDED IN SAID PARTITION. 